Ace-38
Joined Mar 2000
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Ace-38's rating
1994: A young filmmaker, from New Jersey of all places, unleashes what is essentially his life story. A raw, explicit, frank and hysterical film, "Clerks." Refreshed the thought of what an "independent" film should be, and created an instant star of its creator, Mr. Kevin Smith.
Flash forward 10 years, in 2004, fresh from numerous critical and fan supported successes, Kevin Smith brings us "Jersey Girl". What he said was an attempt to tell a story about his feelings of fatherhood, it was later admitted by the director himself that the film was heartfelt, but intentionally watered down and held back from his usual frank and genuine dialogue.
Now, 2 years after the mess that was "Jersey Girl", Mr. Smith returns to his roots to tell a story about life in your 30's, "Clerks II". The movie is flat out fall on the floor hysterical, but much like "Jersey Girl" was forced into its softer approach, "Clerks II" feels really forced to be raunchy and provocative.
Plot line is this: 10 years after the events we witnessed in "Clerks.", Dante Hicks reports to work at the Quick Stop to find it on fire. We then flash forward a couple years and see that both Dante and his friend Randal Graves employed at fast food joint Mooby's. Dante is engaged to a woman who's more than a bit hyperactive and pushy (Jennifer Schwalbach-Smith), yet he's in love with his manager, played by the lovely Rosario Dawson.
Hijinks ensue from there, everything from Jay and Silent Bob's transition into sobriety, the much publicized donkey show, and finally, a smartly-written and deep conversation leading to the conclusion of this one. However, the aforementioned sequence is the ONLY time we get the trademark smart dialogue from any of the characters. Most of the time, it's a stream of highly off color (but hysterical) one liners strung together to form a loose plot. While the movie is funny enough to be a successful comedy, "Clerks." was more than a dick and fart joke film, the characters were deep and well crafted, and we were quickly able to relate and feel for the characters. We really don't have that ability in "Clerks II" and it really shows in the way its played.
I jumped aboard the Kevin Smith bandwagon way back when, and I feel the need to say .Kevin, going back to your roots takes more than shock factor, don't force it, let it flow. Character and dialogue carried you, those are your roots. 2.5 out of 5
Flash forward 10 years, in 2004, fresh from numerous critical and fan supported successes, Kevin Smith brings us "Jersey Girl". What he said was an attempt to tell a story about his feelings of fatherhood, it was later admitted by the director himself that the film was heartfelt, but intentionally watered down and held back from his usual frank and genuine dialogue.
Now, 2 years after the mess that was "Jersey Girl", Mr. Smith returns to his roots to tell a story about life in your 30's, "Clerks II". The movie is flat out fall on the floor hysterical, but much like "Jersey Girl" was forced into its softer approach, "Clerks II" feels really forced to be raunchy and provocative.
Plot line is this: 10 years after the events we witnessed in "Clerks.", Dante Hicks reports to work at the Quick Stop to find it on fire. We then flash forward a couple years and see that both Dante and his friend Randal Graves employed at fast food joint Mooby's. Dante is engaged to a woman who's more than a bit hyperactive and pushy (Jennifer Schwalbach-Smith), yet he's in love with his manager, played by the lovely Rosario Dawson.
Hijinks ensue from there, everything from Jay and Silent Bob's transition into sobriety, the much publicized donkey show, and finally, a smartly-written and deep conversation leading to the conclusion of this one. However, the aforementioned sequence is the ONLY time we get the trademark smart dialogue from any of the characters. Most of the time, it's a stream of highly off color (but hysterical) one liners strung together to form a loose plot. While the movie is funny enough to be a successful comedy, "Clerks." was more than a dick and fart joke film, the characters were deep and well crafted, and we were quickly able to relate and feel for the characters. We really don't have that ability in "Clerks II" and it really shows in the way its played.
I jumped aboard the Kevin Smith bandwagon way back when, and I feel the need to say .Kevin, going back to your roots takes more than shock factor, don't force it, let it flow. Character and dialogue carried you, those are your roots. 2.5 out of 5
"Stick it" was heavily marketed as one of those "from the people who brought you" type movies. In this case, the snappy and intelligent "Bring It On" was the film in question. Well, "Stick It" is really a carbon copy of its superior sibling. When I say carbon copy in this case, I mean virtually the same story, but with certain plot elements changed, much like the carbons in your checkbook record what you write, but do so on a messier, less attractive scale. In "Bring It On", we had Missy as the sidekick to our protagonist, Torrance. In "Stick It", the sidekick becomes protagonist, in the form of Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym). What we don't have is the smart writing and clever humor that Jessica Bendinger (who also directed this one) brought to BIO. Neither do we quite have the excitement. Bendinger's "gymnastics-off" in this one damn sure isn't Clovers vs. Toros, nor do we have that feeling of wonder watching the underdog. In fact, "Stick It" is much more by the book, and you can practically know whats going to happen just by listening to Haley's voice overs. Plot line is kinda basic, former gymnastics prodigy Graham walks out on the world stage before millions, and turns to a life of rebellion. She gets arrested for one stunt, and is given a choice
military academy or a competitive gymnastics club. She chooses military and the judge (played by Polly Holliday..better known to a generation as Florence Jean Castleberry, or Flo for short) gives her gymnastics. There she runs into the latest group of hopefuls, led by the conceited and under talented Joanne (played kinda fun by the adorable Vanessa Lengies). The once great but now injured coach cliché is filled in kinda nicely by Jeff Bridges. Overall, most of the cast fill their leotards well and don't offer much more than that. Oh yeah, we had more than our fair share of nubile female flesh in this one, but that sexy skin isn't close to enough to carry this movie. Gotta have a story, gotta have decent characters, and gotta lose the silly clichés to make a film interesting! "Stick It" tried to be a copy of the stellar "Bring It On", but copying its storyline, losing its heart and humor, and trying to use flesh as replacement, it failed on a massive scale. 1.5 out of 5
But still a fun watch. "Stealth" is, in spite of its completely predictable plot and below average performances, a fun watch whose special effects and fast paced airborne sequences keep your attention. Granted, it takes awhile for those to get going, but once they do
wow is it something to see. Not in "Top Gun" territory, but plenty to please the eye.
Plot line is this, given the rapid fire changes involved in the war on terror, the US Navy begins a top secret program involving new fighter jets and the 3 best pilots (Josh Lucas, Jessica Biel and Jamie Foxx) available. After their last successful training mission, they and their superplanes are sent to a carrier assignment for extra training with their new wingman. This wingman is a computer controlled fighter plane known as EDI. Able to learn from watching human actions, EDI becomes self-aware after a lightning strike and makes the next mission a nightmare when he disobeys orders and completes a risky mission. Then, he studies his files and goes on a mission that could start World War III. Of course, naturally, there's a sleazy officer looking to cover his own tail and it's up to our three heroes to recover the renegade drone.
Hadn't heard of Josh Lucas prior to this, but if this is indicative of his work, I haven't missed much. His Lt. Ben Gannon is way too arrogant for his own good, and in all truths, his actions would get him grounded and likely court-martialed in the real life US Navy. I'm really tired of the pretty boy, two days growth of beard, follow the orders I want to follow US Navy pilots we see in films of this nature. I realize that it makes a more interesting story, and Navy pilots are among the most arrogant in society, but I'd kill to see a realistic portrayal of our Navy fliers. Jamie Foxx isn't any better, following up a masterstroke performance in "Ray" with a pilot character that makes Gannon seem downright tame. Jessica Biel, while an amazingly beautiful woman and a reasonably talented actress, mails this one in as well ..Lt. Kara Wade just never engrosses me and she's given a lame romantic subplot to deal with. Not that there's any subtlety in that plot, as you see it plainly as soon as they try to introduce it.
Other performances include a pretty decent turn by Sam Shepard as Capt. George Cummings, designer of the squadron and planes, he's got a lot riding on it's success and will do anything to ensure it happens. Joe Morton chimes in as Capt. Dick Marshfield, the commanding officer of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72..shown correctly at first, but in a later bow shot, magically becomes the USS Carl Vinson, CVN 70) who has to deal with the ramifications caused by these planes. Shepard has the best character in this one, and handles it well.
"Stealth" is a fun way to kill two hours, the aerial sequences are great and the special effects are outstanding. You never care too much about the characters, story or events in spite of the lame and obvious plot twist that leads into the last third of the film, and that's before the second lame and obvious plot twist that leads into the close, but as long as you don't look too deep below the surface, and know what you're walking into, "Stealth" is a fun diversion.
2 ½ out of 5
Plot line is this, given the rapid fire changes involved in the war on terror, the US Navy begins a top secret program involving new fighter jets and the 3 best pilots (Josh Lucas, Jessica Biel and Jamie Foxx) available. After their last successful training mission, they and their superplanes are sent to a carrier assignment for extra training with their new wingman. This wingman is a computer controlled fighter plane known as EDI. Able to learn from watching human actions, EDI becomes self-aware after a lightning strike and makes the next mission a nightmare when he disobeys orders and completes a risky mission. Then, he studies his files and goes on a mission that could start World War III. Of course, naturally, there's a sleazy officer looking to cover his own tail and it's up to our three heroes to recover the renegade drone.
Hadn't heard of Josh Lucas prior to this, but if this is indicative of his work, I haven't missed much. His Lt. Ben Gannon is way too arrogant for his own good, and in all truths, his actions would get him grounded and likely court-martialed in the real life US Navy. I'm really tired of the pretty boy, two days growth of beard, follow the orders I want to follow US Navy pilots we see in films of this nature. I realize that it makes a more interesting story, and Navy pilots are among the most arrogant in society, but I'd kill to see a realistic portrayal of our Navy fliers. Jamie Foxx isn't any better, following up a masterstroke performance in "Ray" with a pilot character that makes Gannon seem downright tame. Jessica Biel, while an amazingly beautiful woman and a reasonably talented actress, mails this one in as well ..Lt. Kara Wade just never engrosses me and she's given a lame romantic subplot to deal with. Not that there's any subtlety in that plot, as you see it plainly as soon as they try to introduce it.
Other performances include a pretty decent turn by Sam Shepard as Capt. George Cummings, designer of the squadron and planes, he's got a lot riding on it's success and will do anything to ensure it happens. Joe Morton chimes in as Capt. Dick Marshfield, the commanding officer of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72..shown correctly at first, but in a later bow shot, magically becomes the USS Carl Vinson, CVN 70) who has to deal with the ramifications caused by these planes. Shepard has the best character in this one, and handles it well.
"Stealth" is a fun way to kill two hours, the aerial sequences are great and the special effects are outstanding. You never care too much about the characters, story or events in spite of the lame and obvious plot twist that leads into the last third of the film, and that's before the second lame and obvious plot twist that leads into the close, but as long as you don't look too deep below the surface, and know what you're walking into, "Stealth" is a fun diversion.
2 ½ out of 5